Chiropractic
Chiropractic is based on the theory that health and disease are life processes related to the function of the nervous system. Practitioners use a holistic approach to identify and remove mechanical, chemical, or psychic factors that may have caused disease.
Frequently, manipulation of the vertebral column is used to correct a slightly faulty alignment of the bones that might be applying pressure on nerves or other structures in the intervertebral foramen and thereby causing disease (Willoughby 1998).People who visit a chiropractor for relief of their own aches and pains may seek treatment of their animals as well. The chiropractor may request the loan of a veterinary anatomy book before working on a goat or other domestic animal. The results are not usually reported, possibly due to fear of prosecution for unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine. The veterinarian can allay these fears by asking the chiropractor to consult on the case. Unfortunately, if owners do not discuss the animal's condition with a veterinarian, very serious neurologic diseases may go undiagnosed, to the detriment of the animal. An increasing number of veterinarians have taken postgraduate courses in chiropractic through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (http://www.animalchiropractic.org) and integrate the techniques into their routine case management.